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Gym Teacher Arrested, In Jail On Drug Charge

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Police arrested a Freedom Area School District faculty member Tuesday.

New Sewickley Township police say James Summers, a gym teacher at Freedom Area Senior High School, was caught snorting a substance and later sharing it with a juvenile who also snorted it, via surveillance cameras mounted in his office.

Superintended Jeffrey Fuller installed the cameras as part of an internal investigation after police informed him of possible misconduct.

After receiving the footage, police obtained a warrant and confiscated drug paraphernalia and found drug residue in his office.

The residue has been sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab to be tested and identified.

"The teacher was promptly removed from the classroom and has resigned from employment with the district," Fuller said in a statement.

Parent Joann Adams was surprised to hear of Summers' arrest.

"I can't imagine, I'm shocked," Adams said. "I don't know what to say, I'm shocked."

But some students at the high school weren't shocked.

Casum Matlick, a junior at the school, said he was a little surprised, but not entirely shocked saying Summers' drug use had been rumored for a long time.

"I've heard rumors," Matlick said. "He seemed like a straight forward guy. He was, you know, never hanging out with any of those kinds of kids really."

Another student, junior Andrew Teny, said his friend saw Summers in handcuffs walking out of the school.

Summers is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and corruption of minors.

Police say Summers could face more charges pending the crime lab test results.

Summers is in the Beaver County Jail on $200,000 bond.

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